Dispensing device for collapsible tube



July '27, 1965 v R. A. DICK DISPENSING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filedbee. 26, 1963 20 l6 l6 l7 I NVEN TOR. (A Y A. fi/aK BY WM Awe/vars.

United States Patent DISPENSING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Ray A. Dick,3849 Annadale Lane, Sacramento 21, Calif.

Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,590 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-102) Thisinvention relates to a dispensing device for collap sible tubes, and hasas its primary object the provision of means whereby the contents of acollapsible tube may be dispensed smoothly and uniformly insubstantially predetermined units without waste, and Without twisting orbending the tube.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which may be readily adapted to the dispensing of toothpaste, shaving cream, and similar ingredients normally contained incollapsible tubes, which will serve to conceal the tube, which willdispense the contents evenly and smoothly, which will be ornamental inappearance, and which will be sturdy and durable in construction, andreliable and elficient in operation.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as thedescription of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of thisinventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of dispenser embodying theinstant inventive concept shown in association with a collapsible tube.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 ofFIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 33 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of theinstant invention comprises a casing which is generally indicated at 10,which is comprised of two complementary half sections 11 and 12. Eachsection includes an end wall 13 and 14, respectively, and a pair of sidewalls 15 and 16, respectively. The side walls at their extremities areprovided with inwardly extending ridges 17 and 18, respectively, whichare in turn provided with interconnected rib fittings so that the devicemay be snap fitted in related assembly, such fittings being indicated at20. Each section also includes a top wall 21 and 22, respectively, whichis provided at its outer edge with a rib 23 and 24, respectively, theconfronting faces of the ribs being provided with interlocking elements25.

Each side wall 15 and 16 is provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove or channel 26 and 27, respectively on its inner side, the groovesbeing parallel, and the grooves on walls 16 being aligned, as are thegrooves on walls 15. Each pair of grooves is adapted to receive the endof an axle 28 and 29, respectively, each axle having fixed thereto forrotation therewith a ribbed or corrugated roller 30 and 31,respectively, the ribs or corrugations of the rollers interengaging witheach other, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 on opposite sides of acollapsible tube T, so that as the rollers are moved downwardly, in amanner to be more fully described hereinafter, the contents of the tubeT will be ejected from its nozzle N which extends through the openbottom 0 of the casing as shown in FIGURE 1.

3,197,072 Patented July 27, 1965 Each axle 28 and 29 carries at each enda gear 32 and 33, which gears intermesh, as best shown in FIG- URE 3adjacent the side walls of the casing and spaced outwardly from thesides of the tube T. Each axle also carries a pinion 34 and 35 adjacentits ends, which pinions are engaged with teeth 36 and 37 forming rack onthe inner sides of ribs 17 and 18, respectively. Thus, rotating movementof either roller will be imparted to the other roller through the gears32 and 33, and corresponding downward movement will be imparted to theroller assembly through the teeth 36 and 37 of the associated rack. 7

One of the rollers, illustratively, roller 30 is provided with a.central annular groove 40, within which is seateda ratchet wheel 42,fixed to the axle and to the roller so that the latter are rotated asthe ratchet wheel is moved. Means for moving the ratchet takes the formof a pawl 43 which comprises the lower arm of a yoke 44, the upper armof which is relatively flat as shown at 45, and which extends over theroller 30 and its associated groove 45. Yoke 44 is integrally aflixed toa plunger 46 which extends outwardly through a slot 47 in the end wall13 of casing section 11, and which carries exterior of the slot a head48. A first spring 49 is interposed between the side wall 13 and thehead 48, and a second spring 50 is interposed between the yoke 44 in theinside of the wall 13 of the casing.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now bereadily understandable. The casing may be separated, initially, and theaxles 28 and 29 and their associated rollers moved to the top of slots26 and 27, the end of a tube inserted or positioned on one roller, andthe casing reassembled. When the cap is removed, and the plunger 48 ispressed inwardly against the bias of spring 49, the pawl 43 engages oneof the ratchet teeth of ratchet wheel 42 to advance the same in partialrotation. This in turn rotates the associated axle 28 and the gears 32in pinion 34. Gears 32 through their engagement with gears 33 rotateroller 31 simultaneously along with the pinion 35. The engagement ofpinions 34 and 35 with their associated rack teeth 36 and 37 move therollers downwardly in the casing a proportional distance. Release of theplunger head 48 releases plunger 46, whereupon the spring 49 moves thedevice to inoperative position. The broadened arm 45 of yoke 44 returnsthe assembly to position for operation upon the next pressure of plungerhead 48.

In refilling the device if an upward pressure is exerted on the plunger46 the springs are compressed and the pinion is moved to a position toclear the ratchet wheel so that the associated axle and roller may thenbe readily moved toward the top of the container.

The container may be employed either in a horizontal or verticalposition as is most advantageous.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved dispenser for the contents of collapsible tubes whichaccomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, includingmany advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, itis to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising a two-partcasing having an open bottom, said casing comprising two complementaryhalf sections each making a top, side, and end walls, said side wallshaving inwardly extending longitudinal ribs, means on the marginal edgesof said half sections for releasably interlocking the same,

3 teeth on the inner edge of each rib confronting the adjacent sidewalls and forming a pair of oppositely extending longitudinal racks oneach side of said casing, elongated grooves in each side wall of eachsection parallel to said ribs, an axle extending transversely acrosseach section having its extremities seated in said grooves, a ribbedroller on each axle,reach roller being adapted to engage an oppositeside of a collapsible tooth, 'a gear adjacent each end of each axle,each gear being in mesh with its corresponding gear on the oppositeaxle, a pinion at each end of each axle, each pinion engaging an,adjacent rack, a longitudinal slot in one end wall, a plunger extendingthrough said slot, means engaging said plunger with the adjacent rollerto rotate the same to causesaid adjacent roller to move downwardly insaid casing through engagement of the pinions carried by its axle withthe adjacent racks, and simultaneously to cause the other roller to movedownwardly through the engagement of said meshing gears.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said adjacent roller is providedwith an annular groove having a ratchet wheel therein surrounding itsaxle, and said plunger includes a pawl which upon engaging said ratchetrotates said adjacent rollers.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said plunger is provided with a yokeat its end adjacent said ratchet, one

arm of said yoke being of a width in excess of that of said annulargroove and resting on the surface of said roller,

,the other arm of said yoke extending into said groove and ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED TATES PATENTS 1,435,622 11/22 Price 222-102X LOUIS I. DE-MBO, Primary Examiner.

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1. A DISPENSING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES COMPRISING A TWO-PARTCASING HAVING AN OPEN BOTTOM, SAID CASING COMPRISING TWO COMPLEMENTARYHALF SECTIONS EACH MAKING A TOP, SIDE, AND END WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLSHAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL RIBS, MEANS ON THE MARGINAL EDGESOF SAID HALF SECTIONS FOR RELEASABLY INTERLOCKING THE SAME, TEETH ON THEINER EDGE OF EACH RIB CONFRONTING THE ADJACENT SIDE WALLS AND FORMING APAIR OF OPPOSITELY EXTENDING LONGITUDINAL RACKS ON EACH SIDE OF SAIDCASING, ELONGATED GROOVES IN EACH SIDE WALL OF EACH SECTION PARALLEL TOSAID RIBS, AN AXLE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS EACH SECTION HAVING ITSEXTREMITIES SEATEDIN SAID GROOVES, A RIBBED ROLLER ON EACH AXLE, EACHROLLER BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF A COLLAPSIBLE TOOTH,A GEAR ADJACENT EACH END OF EACH AXLE, EACH GEAR BEING IN MESH WITH ITSCORRESPONDING GEAR ON THE OPPOSITE AXLE, A PINION AT EACH END OF EACHAXLE, EACH PINION ENGAGING AN ADJACENT RACK, A LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN ONEEND WALL, A PLUNGER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT, MEANS ENGAGING SAIDPLUNGER WITH THE ADJACENT ROLLER TO ROTATE THE SAME TO CAUSE SAIDADJACENT ROLLER TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY IN SAID CASING THROUGH ENGAGEMENT OFTHE PINIONS CARRIED BY ITS AXLE WITH THE ADJACENT RACKS, ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY TO CAUSE THE OTHER ROLLER TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THEENGAGEMENT OF SAID MESHING GEARS.